Brisbane Airport’s international terminal is getting the biggest makeover it’s ever had since it opened almost three decades ago.
A first look at what passengers can expect within just a few years was unveiled on Thursday.
Perhaps most excitingly for passengers, the airport is getting new computed tomography (CT) security screening equipment, producing high quality 3D images of bags.
That means laptops, other electronic items, aerosols, gels and liquids can stay in your carry-on bag when passing through the security checkpoint.
It will also increase speed, meaning shorter queues for travellers.
Australian airports were directed by the former government in 2018 to introduce this technology by the end of 2025, and many airports have already begun installing the equipment.
The security screening and passport control area at the Brisbane Airport international terminal will be moved from a windowless area on level three to level four, a much brighter naturally-lit space, which the airport believes reflects the Queensland experience.
The upgraded terminal will also include self-service check-in and bag drop, upgraded retail stores and a new duty-free area double the size.
Electric charging stations will also be installed for aircraft support vehicles like pushback tugs, belt loaders, cargo loaders, and baggage tugs – with sustainability in mind, as well as making the apron a quieter workplace.
Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff proudly unveiled an animated video of the new terminal to hundreds of industry leaders on Thursday at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit in Brisbane.
“This animation is just the easy part now we have to build the bloody thing,” he joked.
He added: “Everything must be designed for giving our passengers a stress free and enjoyable journey.”
He asked airlines to be patient during the upgrades, as up to 75,000 passengers a day will still be using the airport during construction.
“I promise the wait will be worth it,” he said.
The project will have 20 phases to reduce impacts on passengers and airlines, and construction is expected to be finished in 2027.
The international terminal is part of a $5 billion investment in transforming the entire airport, including the domestic terminal and a new terminal three, which will be located between the two parallel runways.
“Eventually, we will integrate domestic and international passengers into this new facility,” Mr de Graaff explained in a statement.
“We need to determine whether this integration will happen from day one or in stages. What we know for sure is that sustainability and accessibility will be baked into the design of Terminal 3.”
Source: www.news.com.au
